Zika Travel?

Kirstie155

So hubby and I have been wanting to take a Caribbean vacation for some time now, and I think I have mentioned it somewhere on here before. Well, now is the time to decide if we are actually going to plan this vacation, or go somewhere that zika isn't as high a threat. We were originally planning an October vacation (where we start trying for baby!) but have pushed back to December due to my work schedule and December is also our anniversary month, so we are making this an anniversary vacation.

So the problem is, we are trying to decide if the zika threat is something we should allow to derail our vacation plans. We live on the east coast of the US, and December means cold and snow...so we really want to get away to somewhere warm. Europe is too far away and expensive for such a short trip (7-10 days), so we were really looking at the Caribbean. Another thought is to stay in the US and just embrace winter...but I don't wanna Canada is even colder. What we really want to do is go to the Caribbean and not get zika! Obviously if we chose to go, we would not actively start TTC until after we are home and tested, which is another down side-wanted to start trying on vacation. However, we aren't so naive to but our vacation baby making wants above the health of our unborn child...so we would wait. Wait, wait, wait.

Some additional thoughts...is zika going to spread even more after the Olympians return from Brazil? There is already 33 cases of zika in my state that have been reported, and 80% of people don't even have symptoms! Who knows how many people have it and haven't reported it, or don't even know they have it. I get bitten ALL THE TIME, and my state is one where these mosquitoes live. Is it going to continue to spread to the point where the threat is so real, we delay getting pregnant? For how long? If you test positive for zika, the CDC says to wait 6 months before TTC.

I have also read that once you get it, you're immune. Should we go have a great vacation, and then if we get zika, know we are immune? Not sure I believe this yet. This is really frustrating, and I'm just not sure what to do.

-Go to Caribbean, probably get zika, wait 6 months, ttc?
-Don't go to Caribbean, maybe get zika anyway because its in my state, don't get tested bc i have no symptoms, ttc, maybe have baby with zika birth defects.
-Get tested for zika all the time anyway, get ridiculed by my obgyn because she thinks I am overreacting.

I just don't know what we should do. I keep going around and around in circles. I looked up loads of other vacation spots, and an just not seeing anywhere else I'd like to go in December...plus not traveling is no guarantee we wont get it right here at home!

Please weigh in!

Kirstie155

Anybody? @WifiresGettingFit @NatashaLP2014 @VeryKatie @puffbrat

puffbrat

I did a very quick search for some info because I really don't want to suggest canceling or moving your vacation somewhere less desirable. Those vacations are important!

Here is what the CDC says:
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/thinking-about-pregnancy.html

While the officials are saying the Olympics won't cause further spread of zika, I don't actually believe that.

From looking at a world map on the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/active-countries.html) it does look like the Caribbean is risky. Is there a possibility or interest for you two to pick one of the Pacific islands currently not experiencing active transmission? What about Hawaii? When my husband and I looked for honeymoon ideas, the Galapagos was surprisingly inexpensive, but from the map it appears they may also have active transmission.

For me personally, I think Leo and I would go on the vacation with lots of bug spray (bugs LOVE me) and hold off TTC a couple/few more months based on the CDC recommendations. Especially since there is no guarantee not to get it here in the US in the near future as you pointed out.

WifiresGettingFit

Sorry @Kirstie155 I didn't see this post until now.
I would go on the vacation you want and enjoy yourself, do the normal precautions to avoid getting bit - hold off on TTC and get tested when you get back.

I read on the CDC that most people won't show symptoms or may only have mild symptoms. I also read this "Once someone has been infected with Zika, it’s very likely they’ll be protected from future infections. There is no evidence that past Zika infection poses an increased risk of birth defects in future pregnancies."
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/questions.html

VeryKatie

I'm not sure what I would do... maybe I'd lean to going somewhere safe (that's my nature. SAme reason we didn't go to Paris). I do know that when I was in Europe we changed our minds and started TTC while there. Since there wasn't a zika risk, we didn't worry too much. I don't know if I could personally wait any longer than I did, especially since I still don't know when I will get pregnant. Zika stays in the man's system longer than in a woman's by the way, so watch for that. It presents as a mild flu.

What about places like Vietnam or something? When is your original plan for TTC again?

I would get tested for Zika as much as you want to. Don't worry about your obgyn's behaviour.

It almost seems like the sooner you get pregnant, the less Zika will have spread, so the lower the chances. Unless they come up with a vaccine.

Kirstie155

So you don't think its reckless and stupid to go to a place with active zika transmission when we know we want to ttc soon? That's what I keep telling myself, that it's reckless. And then I think about it some more and get all confused again.

You are so right, @puffbrat ,vacations are so important- and I don't want to spend time and money somewhere that we don't really want to go... but we also want to try for a baby, and would be kicking ourselves if we have to wait 6 more months because we knowingly went somewhere with zika...OR we might not because I could catch it at home. Ugh! This is what makes this so difficult for me. If it wasn't here at home, I would just say we shouldn't go to areas that have it. The end.

@WifiresGettingFit do you think getting zika now is a better idea than hoping just dont get it later? Get immunity? Bugs love me, and I get bit even with bug spray all the time. It really sucks, and I will get bit, here at home, on vacation...everywhere. Spraying chemical deet all over myself while pregnant doesnt really seem like a good idea for baby either.

@VeryKatie our original plan was October on vacation ("a baby making moon" ) but we are putting off the vacation until December due to busy schedule in October. I also didn't want to be pregnant on the vacation, so that I can drink and don't have to worry about morning sickness. So obviously if we go to an area with zika, we wont be trying on vacation...how was it deciding on vacation to start trying early?
Vietnam is like a 24+ hour plane ride from where we live! My mother in law is from there, and would love to take us but we really need like a month vacation to handle that flight!

Anyone have any awesome vacation ideas in the US or Canada that is zika free in December? Hawaii is also a pretty long flight from the east coast, but is a good idea, I will look into that.

What are your vacation plans?

WifiresGettingFit

Ehh I was just saying to live your life, take precautions and hope for the best.

NatashaLP2014

We are planning to go to the West Edmonton Mall in October. It has an indoor water park, amusement rides, shopping (of course), and plenty of restaurants. I personally don't like being hot or lying on the beach. I attract every bug and get sunburned no matter what sunscreen I use or how often I apply it. Becca also hates the heat, but loves water so that is a huge consideration for us.

Canada is pretty much out if you want to lie on a beach but the west coast, (Vancouver, Vancouver Island) while it can be rainy has a lot of stuff and no snow unless you deliberately want to go up to Whistler for Skiing. With a beautifully built highway to get you there fairly quick. There's also Kingfisher Spa on the Island which has an amazing 2 hour water path that you slowly move through plus your more traditional spa stuff. And then there are also hot springs near Tofino (Hot Springs Cove). Victoria on the Island is a beautiful city and we spent our honeymoon there wandering the downtown streets with all the little shops and restaurants. The Butchart Gardens has a Magic of Christmas, festive light display during the entire month of December which I can imagine would be stunning.

Personally if I had already made up my mind about wanting to go somewhere that had Zika and nothing else was plausable or appealed. I'd probably just go and get tested when I got back, if you have to wait afterward it might be unfortunate but such is life. If you're only going for 7-10 days it may not even be the right timing to try to conceive plus it can take two perfectly healthy adults a year to conceive. (It took my husband and I 5 months with Becca.)

Also, if your obgyn gives you crap about sharing your concerns and wanting to be tested then get a new one. You never know when you're going to be one of those people who have non-typical symptoms for things so being comfortable enough to share everything and feeling heard is, in my view, essential.

VeryKatie

@Kirstie155 See I live in an area that is essentially zika free, so that might be why my response was what it was! In terms of TTC on vacation, it was very exciting and romantic . I don't like drinking so I didn't care about that part. The only awkward part was on the last night when I gave away my free drink ticket and other people on our tour kept trying to get me to drink and were like "why aren't you drinking" and I said "because I had sex" and then they told everyone I was pregnant (which I was not lol). But it was the last night and it was partially funny so I didn't care. Plus I doubt I'll see those people again.

Kirstie155

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm not 100% sure what we are going to do, but it looks like we are leaning towards having the vacation we have been dreaming of in the Caribbean, and then worst case wait 6 months after to ttc.

Last night we were looking at all the travel sites and it looks so exciting! Sandals in Nassau, Bahamas looks fantastic and is all inclusive, is affordable (if we go for 5-6 days instead of the 10 I was hoping for, haha) and is only about a 4-5 hour plane ride, instead of the 12+ to Hawaii. Plus, whoa! Hawaii is so expensive! We would blow our whole budget and then some just on flights and hotel, and it's not all inclusive there.

Thanks again for the input! Its good to have the point of view from ladies that are TTC soon as well!

Kirstie155

Eeeek! Hubby booked our vacation to the Bahamas in December!

Hope everyone is having a good week, work has been crazy so I'm not on here quite as much as usual, but still around and on plan ...and even more motivated than ever!

WifiresGettingFit

@Kirstie155 That's so exciting! Keep up the good work!

puffbrat

@Kirstie155 the Bahamas sounds really fun! I'm sure you two will have a great time!

Kirstie155

Thanks guys! I'm so excited!

Kirstie155

Wanted to post a question here. So I have a zika test scheduled in about 2 weeks, but hubby and I will have been back for over a month by then, and even if it was positive...the CDC says to wait 8 weeks from last known zika exposure to ttc.
So Im thinking of just cancelling the zika testing and just ttc at the end of February, which will be my next fertile window after the 2 month period. This way I don't have to have a blood test (hate em) and take time off work to go to the doctor, get all worried if it is positive (I would stress SO MUCH, even if they said it was fine to ttc in Feb) and possibly get hit with a huge bill from insurance since this is a specialty test and I don't need it since Im not pregnant yet.

Also, hubby wont tell me when he wants to ttc...he says he has a surprise. More on that later, but Im ready to kill him er, be angry with him over it. Not the kind of thing I want to be surprised with!!! >:0

What do you think, should I just cancel the test? I don't know that it will bring me any peace of mind really.

WifiresGettingFit

@Kirstie155 If it were me, I would get the test done.

puffbrat

Your reasoning makes a lot of sense, but I personally would still do the test. I completely understand what you are saying about getting really stressed waiting for the test result, but I would get stressed starting TTC without the test and constantly wondering. Go with what feels right to you, though. If you don't think the test will bring you peace of mind, then I agree that it probably is not worth doing.

Kirstie155

Thanks for the opinions, ladies. I am calling my insurance today to discuss the cost of the test and make sure it isnt something like $1000 or something ridiculous. I just assumed it would be covered, but that is really foolish thinking. I'm going to discuss it with my husband as well and see about his thoughts.
On the one hand I would like to meet the new doctor and get the okay to ttc but honestly all the information I've read seems to say 8 weeks if you test positive. Eh...still thinking on it!

Kirstie155

UPDATE: I am getting the test done as planned. Turns out my insurance covers it 100%, so there is really absolutely no logical reason not to. Next Thursday is test day.

puffbrat

That's great your insurance covers it Katie! Hopefully you get a negative.

WifiresGettingFit

@Kirstie155 I'm glad it worked out that they cover it!

VeryKatie

I hope the test results come back soon and are negative

Kirstie155

My test was scheduled for tomorrow at 9am. Today at 5pm they called me and said that they couldn't have me come in and risk exposure of Zika to the other pregnant women at the women's clinic.


I was livid, and then I cried the whole way home.
I've had this appointment scheduled for 3 weeks and called twice to confirm that they can do the test, and that my insurance covers it. 2 days ago they called to confirm my appointment. And then they cancelled it the night before the morning of my appointment. Unbelievable. And a waste of 3 weeks. Hdjdbd hi bdnshdbfjdb!!!!!!!!_#-$(_)$(3-73+4. So so so angry!

WifiresGettingFit

I would be extremely angry as well. What a waste of your time.
Did they mention where else you could go to get tested? Maybe your local health department?

Kirstie155

Hi Kayla, They said I needed to go to a general doctor for labs to be done. It's just a blood draw and a urine sample, so obviously I can get that done somewhere else. What upset me the most is that this was essentially 5 weeks of my time wasted with them. 3 weeks waiting for the appointment, and up to 2 weeks waiting for the results. They know what the appointment was for....If they had told me up front they didn't want me there, I would have found some place else and just moved on!

This is what we were waiting for to TTC, and I was so excited to get the test done...And I feel like the rug was pulled out from under me. It's silly to my rational brain, but my emotional brain was CRUSHED. I cried the whole 45 minute ride home and called my mom to tell her. I feel like I'm always waiting for some deadline, for all the right boxes to be checked. First it was to get married. Check. Then we had to move and get settled. Check. Pay off the car, save some money, go on vacation, get tested for Zika. Check, check, nope.

Right now I'm not going to reschedule my appointment. The CDC says to wait 8 weeks after possible exposure, and it's been 5. By the time I get an appointment and get the rests, it will be past then and tbh I'm just angry. Chris is going to get tested, and at the moment that is good enough for me. I'm so drained by this.

Thanks for listening, ladies.

puffbrat

I'm so sorry @Kirstie155! I would be livid! As far I know, it isn't an airborne disease, so there should be no risk to any other patients regardless unless they are playing with your samples. It's ridiculous that they won't allow someone to get tested.

At this point, your plan moving forward sounds like a good one. I hope Chris tests negative and you two can start TTC in 3 weeks. HUGS

Kirstie155

puffbrat wrote: »

As far I know, it isn't an airborne disease, so there should be no risk to any other patients regardless unless they are playing with your samples. It's ridiculous that they won't allow someone to get tested.

I KNOW!! OMG you should have heard my end of the conversation. I asked what in the world they thought I was going to be doing there with the pregnant ladies, because as far as I know it is spread by blood and sex fluids...and I wasn't going to be sharing those fluids with other patients in the waiting room! The woman I spoke with had no comeback or explanation, just that they "couldnt risk exposure to other patients."

Thanks for the hugs. I feel deflated today

WifiresGettingFit

@Kirstie155 Oh I completely understand why you are so upset. I was just asking follow up questions because honestly I didn't know if the test could be done elsewhere. I think you're nearing the end of your deadlines and I think you'll be much happier and less stressed once these next 3 weeks are over. I'm sorry this turned into such a *kitten* storm but at least there is an end in sight so just try to focus on that.

VeryKatie

@Kirstie155 Ugh that clinic sounds really stupid! They should have at the VERY least set up an appointment at a different clinic for you. And you're right, it's not airborne! I asked my midwife especially about that since I have a close friend who is going to Mexico. She basically said "just don't have sex with her" lol (ok she didn't say that but pretty much that's what it means hahah). I hope you can find another clinic who can get you in for an appointment sooner. Can you just go to a walk-in and get a blood requisition and go to a lab? I'm not sure if it works the same way there as it does here.

Kirstie155

Hey ladies. I'm feeling much better, I was really emotional before and feeling sorry for myself. That has passed now, and I'm not going to get tested. I've decided to take a chill pill and just relax, focus on losing weight and getting stronger, reduce pain in my leg. Be better in general.

Thanks is for the support

WifiresGettingFit

Glad you're feeling better!